Selectable linear or quadratic coupling in an optomechanical system

Abstract

There has been much interest recently in the analysis of optomechanical systems incorporating dielectric nanoor microspheres inside a cavity field.We analyze here the situation when one of the mirrors of the cavity itself is also allowed to move.We reveal that the interplay between the two oscillators yields a cross-coupling that results in, e.g., appreciable cooling and squeezing of the motion of the sphere, despite its nominal quadratic coupling.We also discuss a simple modification that would allow this cross-coupling to be removed at will, thereby yielding a purely quadratic coupling for the sphere.